NEWS: Toronto researchers have found the gene that kills cells

[Murray Charters <Murray_Charters@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thursday, March 29, 2001
Gene kills cells
By ROB GRANATSTEIN, TORONTO SUN
Toronto researchers have found the gene that kills cells -- a
discovery that could some day limit the damage from heart attack
and stroke.

"To find a general principle of life which might be used in 10
years to treat strokes and heart attacks and Parkinson's, this
is really exciting," the study's author, Dr. Josef Penninger said.
"If we're right, this gene is the chisel of life."

In an article published today in the prestigious Nature scientific
journal, researchers at Princess Margaret Hospital reveal how
apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) kills cells.

It's normal for millions of cells to die every day, but cells dying
too quickly can lead to Alzheimer's, heart attacks and strokes.
Cells not dying as they're supposed to can result in cancer and
multiple sclerosis.

Penninger sees drug developers first using AIF to slow cell
deaths in heart attack or stroke victims.

Later on, he sees using AIF as the executor of cancer cells.

"If we can know how AIF works, then we can turn on the
system and the cancer cell should disintegrate into pieces,"
Penninger said.

"It's a nice idea, but how do we bring the protein only to
breast cancer cells and keep the healthy cells alive? That's
a problem."

AIF was discovered by University of Toronto graduate student
Nicholas Joza, 26, who works at Penninger's lab



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